Thousands of El Paso and Teller County voters will go to neighborhood meetings on March 1 to try and let their voice be heard in the nominating process for president of the United States, U.S. Senator and a number of other state and local races.

Hundreds will go to county assemblies and state assemblies. A lucky handful will be chosen to go to their party’s national convention to help select the nominee for president.

Here are some locals who hope to influence the process:

Carolyn Cathey

Age: 56

Party: Democrat

Home: Colorado Springs

Occupation: Realtor

Goal: “It’s pretty competitive to become a national delegate, but I will certainly go all the way to the state.”

Candidate: “I love Bernie Sanders, I love everything he says and I love that the young people are wanting the same things that I want for this country. Hillary (Clinton) and Bernie voted together, the same 93 percent of the time and I believe it’s time for a woman to be leading the country. We’ve had men for the last 200 and whatever years, it’s now time for a woman to take charge and lead.”

On the caucus: “Caucuses are the very basic foundation of our democracy. This is the voice of the people being heard, talked about with neighbors, people walk in with one perception and they walk out with a different perception after talking with their neighbors.”

Brooke Squires

Age: 67

Party: Democrat

Hope: Colorado Springs

Occupation: Volunteer with Everytown for Gun Safety

Goal: “I have a grandchild coming at about the time of the Democratic Convention and that’s taking my priority. I’d like to go to the state and county assemblies only.”

Candidate: “I’ve looked at Hillary through the years and I don’t believe there has been a human being that is more scrutinized than Hillary Clinton. Maybe she is a fallible human, but she is in essence a good, caring and socially aware person. … It’s hard not to like a person who has cared so deeply for women and children pretty much all of her life.”

On the caucus: “If people’s voices aren’t heard it’s because they didn’t take two hours out of their time to show up and participate in this democratic process. … It’s hard to get people out but it’s proven to be pretty successful. If I had my druthers maybe I’d prefer a primary, but I’m going to work with the system we have.”

Young Choi

Age: 40

Party: Republican

Home: Colorado Springs

Occupation: “serial entrepreneur” and owner of a cybersecurity firm

Goal: He’s been a delegate to the county, state and 5th Congressional District assemblies almost every year since he became a U.S. Citizen. “I became a citizen 10 years ago when I had my first kid … unless I vote and am involved in the process, I can’t really complain about how it’s going in the country.”

Candidate: “I’m for (Donald) Trump. My dad and I have argument every night. My dad thinks I am a complete idiot, but I believe I am a very conservative guy. I’m not an extreme right-wing … I am looking at a candidate who can win the election, and number two, who has the experience to run our troubled economy. A lot of people think he is a lunatic, but every time he says something crazy his polls go up.”

On the caucus: “The official note from state GOP is we’re not going to do a straw poll, period. … I don’t think we need to talk about the presidential races at this point. We’re not voting for a presidential race, so if we are going to have a chance and we are going to go to the state, those people should be talking about county-level candidates.”

Michael “Rip” Blaisdell

Age: 77

Party: Republican

Home: Woodland Park

Occupation: Retired Air Force fighter pilot

Goal: “I think it’s going to be a brokered convention. We haven’t had one since 1948. I wouldn’t go if it was … to put our pat on the back of someone who is already the nominee. I love a good fight and would love to be at a brokered convention.”

Candidate: “I am pledged to Ted Cruz. I think he’s the most conservative guy who can get elected. … He has got the guts to do what needs to be done. I think he knows the law very well. This recent kerfuffle between he and Trump, he basically said bring it on, man. … I want a bomb thrower. I want a guy that’s in there that will get things done and know how to get things done.”

On the caucus: “Although in past years the straw poll was meaningless because it didn’t bind delegates, now we don’t even have a straw poll. It’s even more important for people to go. The only way to influence the presidential election is through their delegates and alternates. … (In my precinct) only about 30 people will show up and those are people who are kind of political junkies.”

El Paso County caucus goers are encouraged to go to www.epcvotes.com to confirm locations and times. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE

Michael “Rip” Blaisdell, GOP delegate. Contributed photo

Brook Squires